South African Miners Say Virus Shutdown Risks 45,000 Jobs
- Most mines have been mothballed for five weeks on lockdown
- Shutdown threatens marginal mines, minerals council says
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South Africa’s mining industry could lose more than 45,000 jobs during a prolonged nationwide lockdown to contain the coronavirus, according to the country’s biggest producers.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended a 21-day lockdown by two weeks, keeping most mines mothballed to the end of this month. A prolonged shutdown could curb output by 15%, threatening the viability of marginal operations, the Minerals Council South Africa said.